Joint for dolls



' w., (a. SCHOENHUT.

- JOINT FOR DOLLS. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 18, 1919.

1,326,790. Patented Dec. 30,1919.

UNITED STATES PATENT WILLIAM G. SCI-IOENHUT, OF PHILADELPHIA,PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR 'TO THE A. SCI-IOENI-IUT COMPANY, OFPHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

JOINT FOR DOLLS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. :30, 1919.

Application filed September 18, 1919. Serial No. 324,343.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM G. Sononn- HUT, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented certainImprovements in Joints for Dolls, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to dolls; and the object of my invention is toprovide that form of mechanical dolls known as walking dolls with aspecial form of joint for connecting the legs to the body which, whilesufliciently stiff to insure either leg main taining the desiredposition or condition when the doll is operated to simulate walking, maybe turned on its pivotal connection with the body so that the doll maybe caused to assume a sitting posture.

As is well known, dolls of the so-called walking type are provided withspring tension means of some suitable character that will cause the legsto project forwardly a slight distance; the tension of such spring notbeing suificient to prevent one leg being held momentarily while theother is projected forward by the spring, andthese acts being carriedout alternately, the walking effect is produced. In the formerconstructions, however, the joints between the legs and the body havebeen of such a character that the doll cannot be-placed in a sittingposture, and the essential object of my invention is to provide meansthat will permit this condition and at the same time provide a structurethat may be operated as a walking doll. 7

These and other features of my invention are more fully describedhereinafter, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l, is a sideelevation showing a form of doll to which myinvention has been applied.

Fig. 2, is a front elevation of sufficient of the dolls body and thelegs thereof to illustrate the joint structure connecting these partsand forming the subject of my invention.

Fig. 3, is a side elevation, partlyin section, showing the'position ofthe joint structure in the so-called walking position, in full lines,and showing in dotted lines the position of the joint structure when thedoll is in the sitting posture.

Fig.4, is a perspective view of the form of joint block shown in Figs.1, 2 and 3.

Fig. 5, is an edge view of another form of joint block within the scopeof my invention, and

Figs. 6 and 7, are sectionalviews of the joint member shown in Fi 5,taken on the lines "VI-VI and VII'%II, respectively.

In the drawings, 1 represents the body of the doll, and 2, the legs.These parts are shown in the present instance as connected by jointblocks 3; the latter having a pivotal connection with the body, and apivotal connection with the legs; pins 4 and 5, respectively, beingemployed for this purpose.

The connection of these joint-blocks with the body should be quitetight, and to produce the desired friction and maintain a relativelystiff joint at this'point which will require some effort toeifectmovement of the same with respect to the body,I may provide a structuresuch as illustrated in the accompanyin drawings.

The joint bloc 25 shown in Figs. 1, 2, ct. 86Q., may be of compressedfiber, hard rubber, or other suitable material, and comprises the part 3which is in engagement with the body, and the part 3 engaging the leg;said part 3 being relatively larger than the part 3 and having verytight frictional engagement with the body, which is slotted at 1 toreceive the same. The legs are slotted at 2 to receive the ends 8 of'thejoint blocks. I

The opposite end of the joint block, indicated at 8* and pivotallyconnected to the leg by the pin 5, is provided with a slot or groove 6for the reception of a spring member 7, which may be of wire and whichis employed with the leg-joint to keep the leg or body projected forwardwith respect to each other, and the free movement of such part 3' withrespect to the leg is only restrained by said spring. The position ofthe spring, which is a light afiair preferably of round wire, is clearlyshown in Fig. 3; one end may be caught in the joint block as indicated,while the other end may hook over the back of the leg in the slot 2. Thetension of the springs is such that it will not prevent movement of thedoll on one leg against the force or power of the spring carried by theother leg, and then when the leg which has been first held is released,

the spring of the same will throw it forward to the eXtent of itsmovement with respect to the joint, and a repetition of these acts willsimulate walking, when the doll is held by the hand and moved along,with the feet alternately contacting with the ground.

The smaller projection 3 of the joint block, therefore, while lying inthe slot 2 at the upper end of the leg is not in frictional contacttherewith, and is free to move to the extent permitted by the wall ofthe slot 2. The larger projection 3, however, is in definite frictionalengagement with the walls of the slot 1 in the body; the frictionalengagement being such that while no movement with respect thereto cantake place while the doll is simulating walking, such joint block 3 canbe moved upon its pivot pin t with respect to the body when it isdesired to place the doll in a sitting posture.

In Figs. 5, 6 and 7, I have shown another form of joint block of thesame shape as that shown in Figs. 1, 2, e25 869., which joint block maybe of wood and may comprise the part 38 for engagement with the body,and the part 33 for engagement with the leg; said part 33* beingrelatively larger than the part 33 as in the other structure, and beingprovided with grooves 8 and 8", which may be essentially narrow sawkerfs. The abutments or end walls of these saw kerfs may lie at an anglewith respect to each other, as clearly shown in Figs. 6 and 7, anarrangement which gives the block the desired compressibility andresiliency and avoids danger of the material, usually wood, splitting.

WVhile I have shown a joint structure involving a joint-block of solidmaterial, one form being of wood, with saw kerfs therein. to provide thedesired resiliency to insure proper frictional engagement with the wallsof the recesses 1 formed the doll, I do not wish to be limited to theprecise construction shown since any suitable means; a metal structure,solid or otherwise, or a combination structure including metal parts,having a portion or portions for engagement with the body and insuringthe desired frictional engagement therewith may be employed, suchmodified forms of joint structures having in all instances means thatwill additionally provide the desired spring supported pivotalconnection with the leg; the joint structure or joint block being soheld to the body as to prevent movement with respect to the same untilit is desired to place the doll in the sitting posture.

I claim:

1. In a joint for the legs of dolls, the combination with the body and aleg, of a member connecting the leg and body, meansproin the body ofviding for frictional engagement of said member with the body to preventmovement of the same under normal conditions but permit movement underother conditions, and a pivotal connection for said member with the legfree to have limited movement with respect to the latter under allconditions.

In a joint for the legs of dolls, the combination with the body and aleg, of an in termediate joint member connecting the leg and body; saidmember having such; frictional engagement with the body as to preventmovement of the same under normal conditions and permit movement underother conditions and a pivotal connection with the leg free to havelimited movement with respect to the latter under all conditions, andtension means between said joint member and the leg.

3. In a joint for the legs of dolls, the combination with the body and aleg, of an intermediate joint member, and pivotal connections betweenthe same and the leg and body; said joint member tightly fitting thebody whereby movement of the same under normal conditions is preventedwhile the pivotal connection of said joint member with the leg is freeto have limited movement with respect to the latter under allconditions.

a. In a joint for the legs of dolls, the combination with the body and aleg, of an intermediate joint member comprising a block connecting theleg and body, and pivot pins securing said joint member to the leg andbody; said block having such frictional engagement with the body as toprevent movement of the same under normal conditions but permit movementunder other conditions; the pivotal connection of said joint member withthe leg being free to have limited movement with respect to the latterunder all conditions.

5. In a joint for the legs of walking dolls, the combination with a bodyand a leg thereof, of a joint section connecting the leg and body andpivotally attached to each of the same, means insuring close engagementof said joint section with thebody to maintain the leg of the doll inthe walking position but permitting movement of the leg to a sittingposture; the pivotal connection of said joint section with the leg beingrelatively free to have limited movement with respect to the latter, andtension means be tween the joint section and leg. I

6. In a joint for the legs of walking dolls, the combination with a bodyand a leg there of, of a joint section connecting theleg and body andpivotally attached to each of the same; the body being slotted toreceive the joint section and the latter being held in tight engagementwith the body to maintain the leg in the walking position but permittingmovement to a sitting posture with respect to the body, and the pivotalconnection of said joint section with the leg bein relatively free forlimited movement with respect to the latter, and a spring interposedbetween the joint section and the leg for effecting movement of thelatter with respect to said joint section.

In a joint for the legs of walking dolls, the combination with a bodyand a leg thereor", of a block forming a joint section, pins connectingthe leg and body thereto; the connection with the body being stiff andthe connection with the leg being loose, and tension means at theconnection between the joint section and the leg for eifecting move mentof said leg with respect to the joint section.

8. In a joint for the legs of walking dolls, the combination with a bodyand a leg thereof, of a block forming a joint section, pins connectingthe leg and body thereto; the connection with the body being stiff andthe connection with the leg being loose, and a spring interposed betweenthe joint section and the leg for efi'ecting movement! of the latterwith respect to said joint section.

9. In a joint for the limbs of dolls, the combination with the body anda limb, of a member mounted for movement with respect to the body andnormally in tight frictional engagement therewith; said member having apivotal connection with the limb free to have limited movement withrespect to the latter under all conditions.

10. In a joint for the limbs of dolls, the combination with the body anda limb, of an intermediate joint block member mounted for movement withrespect to the body and normally in tight frictional engagementtherewith; said member having a pivotal connection with the limb free tohave limited movement with respect to the latter under all conditions,and tension means between said joint member and the limb.

11. In a joint for the legs of walking dolls, the combination with abody and a leg thereof, of a block mounted for movement with respect tothe body and leg and having tight engagement with the body; the 1connection with the leg being relatively loose,-and tension means at theconnection between the joint block and the leg for effecting movement ofsaid leg with respect to the joint block.

12. In a joint for the legs of walking dolls, the combination with abody and a leg thereof, of a block mounted for movement with respect tothe leg and body and having tight engagement with the body; theconnection with the leg being relatively loose, and a spring interposedbetween the joint block and the leg for efiecting movement of the latterwith respect to said joint block.

WM. G. SCHOENHUT.

yr 2 UL

